“I don’t know if he was but they pushed him to the ground and started punching and kicking him on the pavement somewhere near Square One.

“I didn’t dare turn around or phone the police for fear of getting a kicking myself. I just got my head down and got away.”

He added shouts, screams and swearing rang out.

“There were kids walking back with their dads and it was just a dreadful sight. It really shook me up.”

Kerrie Havens, landlady of the Last Orders Inn on the corner of Nantwich Road and Mill Street, said: “There was fighting on the back car park outside the pub.

“The police blocked off my back door with a police dog and closed us early – at about 2.10pm. They wouldn’t let anyone in or out. They said people should stay inside so they didn’t get hurt. There were families with a few kids and the kids were panicking.”

Police later escorted the Vale fans from the pub to the Alexandra stadium.

Kerrie said none of the fans had been any trouble in the pub.

Police say they had more officers on the streets in anticipation of trouble.

A police helicopter also hovered looking for any flashpoints.

Chief Inspector Chris Brierley said: “Our priority was to ensure the safety of all law-abiding fans, residents and visitors to the town, not only football supporters.

“A minority of people were intent on causing trouble. They were dealt with robustly and are facing the consequences of their actions.”

Arrests included affray, public order offences, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer. In total 15 were arrested aged between 16 and 47.

Ten of the arrests were made before the match, one arrest was made during the match when a spectator ran on to the pitch and four were arrested after the match.

Two arrested for affray were released on police bail pending further enquiries.

A 19-year-old from Crewe was arrested on suspicion of using threatening words and behaviour but released without charge.

Chief Inspector Brierley added: “As partners in policing this community event I’d like to thank Crewe Alex for their robust stewarding on the day.”

The Editor

Michael Green

Michael Green is the Executive Editor for Trinity Mirror's titles across Cheshire. An experienced journalist he has been working in the group for more than two decades holding pretty much every newsroom position you could wish to name. Passionate about Chester and Cheshire, outside of work you will often find Michael taking in the arts. You can also hear him regularly on Thursday mornings taking through the newspapers on Chester's Dee 106.3